Kewl.

On the 'Dress Loafer' - Why is it called a 'Venetian Loafer'? Any reason?

Thanks -

The (relatively) new shoe store is called Paulrichard's (after the two partners). Subject to Yale's ever increasing need to raise rents, they moved form the old Rosenberg's site into the annex to the JPress shop a few weeks ago. This annex was the location of Barries from at least the 1960s until the mid 1980s. I think there is now a dress shop in the store at the corner of Elm and York, which was  for so many years a bastion of men's Ivy League clothing in one form or another. Just what we need...... another dress shop.

I did a little internet research and found some info that predates my own knowledge of New Haven. The shop at the corner of York and Elm was built as a branch of Langrock's. In the same small block were Rosenberg's, Press and Fenn-Feinstein. Yale men didn't have to wander far to purchase their duds.

The gold-colored Scotch grain moccasin was built on a wide last similar to the Alden Van last (the leisure handsewn). The color was a bit light to wear with gray flannels but I considered it to be a winter shoe because of the grain. I never saw this shoe except at Barries. Barries also sold a cordovan-colored moccasin similar to (but not) Bass which ran at $17.95. Again I thought this was a unique offering at the time (circa late 1963).

Last edited by stylestudent (2007-01-25 08:09:02)

Barrie's also had a location in Boston in the early 1980's.  They were located near the Parker House hotel, up the street that leads to the state capitol building.  I bought some shoes there when I was getting ready for interviews my senior year of college; they sold British shoes made by Cheaney, as well as American shoes.

This brings me back!!  I just graduated from Yale this past May.  Barries stayed in business at the corner of York and Elm until the end of my sophomore year if I remember correctly.  I talked to them about why they were leaving one time and I was told that it was because Yale demanded that they stay open until 9 PM nightly if they were to continue renting the store.